Sibling Saturday - Everyone Said They Must Be Twins!

Lorene (Banet) Lee and Irene (Banet) Dreher

(1909-2005) and (1906-1989)

About 1960.

Everyone who saw the two women were astounded that they weren't twins. Granny (Irene) told me that they had always looked alike, even though Granny was 3 years older than Lorene. Why even their names made them sound like twins! Irene and Lorene! How cute was that!

The two women could work as hard as any man, relax when there was a spare moment, and get up and work some more. And that was all before breakfast!

Seriously, if most women said there was a job they'd leave for their husbands to do, Irene and Lorene went the extra mile to do it themselves! Hardy as mule, and about as stubborn as one as well!

Not particularly tall women, about 5'5" each, and weighing any where from 125 to 200 pounds, at any given time in their lives! Neither one was ever fat, but both got to be chunky a time or two. They didn't diet. They simply worked it off. A little hard work went a long ways for both of them.

Granny loved her flower gardens. And Aunt Lorene (my great-aunt) loved her vegetable garden. Both women quilted. And Granny crocheted like nobody I ever saw. Well, except her daughter, my Mom. They could both simply look at something crocheted, and toss it back at you and say, "I can make that with no problem!" Both could sew the same way. Never used a pattern for anything. Just imagined it in their heads, and suddenly there was the completed project!

Neither Granny or Aunt Lorene were overly demonstrative with hugs and kisses. Come to think of it, neither of my Grandmother's were. But my Grandpa, Granny's husband, now he enjoyed hugs and "smooches". (I grew up in a home where hugs and kisses were commonplace, so I always gravitated toward those who shared that!)

Granny might not have been a very big woman, but when she got mad? Oooooh boy! Look out! She was a woman who could slam the door on every cupboard in the house! And when she got done with that? Well, she'd start on the house doors! I once saw her walk through my huge kitchen just so she could slam the cupboard doors and both outside doors, one when she came in, and one when she went back out! And slamming doors wasn't all she was good at! She liked to stomp when she was mad! She'd sound like a great big man with work boots on sometimes!

My poor Mom did everything she could to make Granny proud of her. And Mom was so hurt, because Granny never told her, "I love you", or "Thank you", or "I'm proud of you". I don't know why. But I was taking care of Granny the day she passed away. And when the minister came in to visit with her, he asked her if she had any regrets. She said, "Yes, I do. When I die, will you let Lois know how proud of her I am?" And he promised to. But, he wasn't expecting Granny to pass so suddenly! Before he had time to get back home that day, Granny was gone. And I guess he forgot about his promise to her.

One day, several years later, Mom looked at me and tears welled in her eyes. She said, "You know, I don't know if my Mom really cared about me or not." At this point in my Mom's life, she'd had a brain aneurysm, and the repair had caused irreparable damage. On a good day, she was about like a 10 year old, on a bad day? More like a 2 year old! On this day, it was a good day. I took her hand in mine, and told her of Granny making the pastor promise to speak with her. She was upset, because he never had. And so I explained he probably forgot because Granny wasn't expected to go that day! But I had heard it. And so I gave her that little solace that I could.

So, why am I sharing this with you?

Too many people leave so much unsaid in this life. Never saying what they feel down deep inside. Words cause hurt. And hurt can sometimes never be released.

Granny is gone now. And Mom is gone. The two never really knew how the other felt about them. Don't leave it up to someone else to tell your daughter, or son, or brother, or sister, or Mom, or Dad, how you really feel about them! If you're proud, then say it to them! If you feel great love, or admiration, then let them know!

Life is too short to leave it up to someone else, or leave it till it's too late to say it!

I have no doubt Granny, and Aunt Lorene, and my precious Mom are celebrating this evening in Heaven. And that any doubts Mom had about her mother loving her are forgotten. And that's a wonderful thing. But just once, I wish she'd told Mom how she felt.

So speak up. Love your family now while you can. Life is simply too short, and then it's gone!

And Aunt Lorene, well, I just threw her in there today, cause I happen to like this photo of these two siblings! Weren't they pretty women? When I think of Granny, this is how I think of her. As I knew her in the 60's. The woman who didn't hug or squidge me. But she always had some cookies and milk on hand! And maybe that was her way of saying how she felt!

Have a fantabulous day everyone!

Sibling Saturday - Parents of the Double First Cousins

Sibling Saturday

Parents of the Double First Cousins

A long while back, there was a brother and sister, named William and Eleanor Beane. They grew up and met and married their prospective spouses. Lo and behold, the brother married a woman named Lillian, and the sister married a man named Don. And don't you know, Lillian and Don were brother and sister as well! Their last name was Ward.

Their children have a tremendous amount of fun, still today, about being "double first cousins". And for all the laughter and fun it brought, here are those brothers and sisters for your enjoyment.

Ada "Eleanor" Beane

1921-2007

married

Donald W. Ward

1917-2000

he was the brother of

Lillian M. Ward

1904-1997

and she married

William McHarvey "Bill" Beane

1917-1914

he was the brother of Eleanor Ward

(see top photograph).

*****HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY "OTHER" MOMMY, TALMA! LOVE YOU SO MUCH! HERE'S WISHING YOU THE BEST BIFRTHDAY EVER!

Sibling Saturday - Louis the Stammerer

Charles the Bald

823-877

My 29th Gr-Grandfather

It isn't often when I've been able to trace someone's family Member's back to such early dates. I have one client who I was able to take their ancestry back to the 3rd Century. Usually, unless someone is of notable historical value, you won't be able to. But in this instance, I was able to take my ancestry back to Charlemagne.  (Not that he was such a good guy mind you, but I do pride myself in having found documented proof back that far!)

And here is another of my ancestors. Charles the Bald. Old Charlie was King of West Francia (843-877), King of Italy (875-877) and Holy Roman Emperor (875-877) where he was known as Charles II.

Old Charlie was married to my 29th Gr-Grandmother, the first of two wives, Ermantrude of Orleans (823-869), and she herself, was of noble blood. Together this couple had ten children. The eldest was Judith of Flanders, my 28th gr-grandmother. And next came Louis the Stammerer. (What a handle!) And that is who we will be discussing today.

Louis the Stammerer was born to Charles the Bald and Ermantrude of Orleans in 846. He was their second born child. It is believed that he was born in West Francia (France today). And his name indicates his unique manner of speech, which came not because of speech impediment, but because he was so shy as a youth that when he stood before others, he became quite nervous, and would so stammer.

Louis the Stammerer

846-879

Louis became King of Aquitaine and later King of West Francia (on his father's demise). In the French monarchial system, he became known as Louis II.

In 856 Louis was betrothed to one of Erispoe, Duke of Brittany's, daughters. However, Erispoe was murdered in 857, and thus the contract of marriage was considered broken.

Louis did, however marry twice.

Louis married first to Ansgarde, of Burgundy. With her he had two sons, Louis and Carloman. He also had 2 daughters, Hildegarde and Gisela. Sometime in 869 Ansgarde died. The reason is unknown. Perhaps in childbirth. But that is merely conjecture.

Louis married second, Adelaide, of Paris, about 874. With Adelaide, Louis had a daughter, Ermentrude. He also had a son, who was born five months after his death, Charles the Simple, who also become King of West Francia, after the death of both of his half-brothers.

Louis is said to have been described as "a simple and sweet man, a lover of peace, justice and religion". However, his last act was to lead a march against invading Vikings. It was during this march that Louis became ill and died on the night of 9/10 April 879(because he died in the night, you will see his death date listed as both the 9th and as the 10th of the month).

On his death, Louis' realms were divided between his two sons, who became known as Carloman II and Louis III of France.

Sibling Saturday

I thought I would show you a photo of me and my siblings, and our parents for this Sibling Saturday.
Front row, left to right: David Lawrence Beane, Walter M. Beane, Lois V. Dreher Beane, Jeffrey Scott Beane.

Back row, left to right: me, and my sister, Velleda "Eydie" K. Beane.

This photo was taken in 1977, just a couple of weeks before I left for Texas. I was moving to be with my husband, who was in the Army.

I love this photograph. My parents are so young here. (They were only in their 30's.) When I remember my Mother (1938-2015) this is how I remember her. She was always such a pretty woman.

I am the eldest of the four of us siblings. Then my sister, then David, and the baby is Jeff. (I think they were like 8 and 6 at the time. And Eydie would have been 15.

The photograph was taken at the only local photographer's. He still used glass plates that he left in the sun to develop photographs! He hand colored the large photograph, but all of the smaller ones were in black and white. I can remember being so fascinated by the process.

So there you have us for Sibling Saturday. And now you know what we looked like as family when I was a teen!

Sibling Sturday

For most of my growing years, thee was only me and my little sister, Eydie. It wasn't until I was married that my little brothers came along. So, when I think of childhood, this is the photograph that comes to mind.

That's me on the left, Mommy, and Eydie in her lap. Grandma Dreher crocheted the little dresses we were wearing, and Mommy sewed the pretty skirt suit she was wearing.

My Mommy was such a pretty thing! And look at Eydie! I always thought she was my personal doll baby! Although we're 22 months apart, she put up with me playing dress up with her! I used to dress her up in whatever I could find to put on her!

Daddy was gone at sea a lot. So my family memories have more to do with the three of us as I was little.

Eydie and I were the little girls who put "girl smell" all over Daddy's pillow so that when he came home, he'd remember how we smelled and not forget us when he had to leave again!

It was a treasured childhood. And I had the bestest little sister in the whole wide world! Love you Sis!

Sibling Saturday

Eleanor Bean and Jack Bean-Ashley

with

Laddy (the dog) and Prince (the horse)

Probably about 1935 +- a year or two at most.

Eleanor and Jack were the children of John Monroe Bean and his second wife Ada L. Burdette Bean.

Sibling Saturday

I am often asked how many siblings I have, and what do they look like.

Well, here we go! (Be forewarned!)

Yes, believe it or not, that's us. Cutting up, in of all places, a hospital!

That's me on the far left, it looks like I'm inspecting the back of David's head (for fleas?). While David is inspecting the tile floor for cracks, he kept saying "You're cracking up!" I didn't get it then, still don't (well, I don't, and that's my story and I'm sticking to it!) And yes, that's Eydie, using her imaginary pirate's hook to go after Jeff, who really didn't want to claim any of us as siblings that day!

We don't see each other all together often. But when we do, there is so much love between us all!  I think even more now than before we lost Mommy, back in 2015. Yeah, I think she would be proud of all of us.

"Hey Mom! She's pickin' on me!"